Action Stations For Finals

Despite inclement weather sweeping across grounds and causing both rain and light delays, all six matches managed to unfold nicely as teams eagerly anticipate the final push towards a premiership in the last weekend of the KFC Queensland Premier Cricket season.

At Allan Border Field, Norths won the toss and sent Ipswich into bat on a green tinged wicket. Norths two big Queensland quicks Will Prestwidge (2/21) and Connor Sully (2/42) got their side off to the best possible start, taking to early wickets to have Ipswich reeling at 2/8. Sully’s wicket set the tone for the Vikings, third slip Blake Maher sending himself horizontal to hold onto the Harry Sheppard edge.

Bryn Llewellyn (20 off 57) and Harry Wood (45 off 104) saw through the tight opening spells before beginning to capitalise on the lightning fast outfield and small square boundaries. However, Llewellyn chased a wide delivery off Maher (1/5) and was caught behind to have Ipswich back in trouble at 3/35 off 19 overs. Sam Neale (5/34) then took a difficult caught and bowled, lunging upward to his left as he caught the leading edge of Noah Emmerson (1 off 19), Ipswich 4/44. 

Jack Wood (42 off 50) came to the crease with Ipswich needing a spark to get themselves back into the contest. Wood blasted 3 sixes and 2 fours as his innings took his side to triple digits, momentum beginning to turn their way. Meanwhile at the other end, younger brother Harry was finding his groove and looking increasingly dangerous. 

With Norths looking to halt the damage, it was Sam Neale who stepped up. Looking for his fourth six, Jack Wood mistimed a length ball from Neale which was caught on the boundary. Harry Wood (45 off 104) was then bowled the next over, chopping on off Prestwidge.

Neale then nabbed Jake Cross (1 off 3) with a beautiful piece of seam bowling, nipping one back through the gate. Sensing the moment, Norths skipper Kendel Fleming brought back on Connor Sully to almost immediate effect as Ipswich captain Anthony Wilson (2 off 11) departed quickly.

In the space of 4 overs, Ipswich had fallen from 4/109 to 8/119. 

Tail enders Jem Ryan (38 off 27) and Adam Smith (9 off 28) tried hard to give their side a target to bowl at, however the damage was done by that point. Sam Neale dismissed both batters, picking up his five wicket haul in the process. Ipswich all out 166.

Ipswich started off positively as they quickly dismissed the Norths top 3, Jem Ryan (3/72) and Harry Wood (1/62) claiming the wickets. With Norths 3/36, the Hornets were right back in the contest and hunting for the big wicket of Brisbane Heat BBL batting star Josh Brown (pictured). Brown and Mitch Doolan were able to see Norths through to stumps 3/83.

Sunday’s play resumed with a bang as Brown looked to make quick work of the remaining 83 runs. In an hour of onslaught, Brown quickly added 50 to his overnight score of 38. His power hitting was on full display as he hit 14 fours and 3 sixes in his 88 off 75. 

Brown’s innings was juxtaposed by fellow batter Mitch Doolan (44 off 107). Doolan was happy to see through maidens and wait for the more traditional ‘bad ball’, while Brown was happy to ride his luck at times and mount enormous pressure on the bowlers through repeatedly finding the boundary. Brown was eventually caught on the boundary off Sean Lutter (4/93), Norths 4/161.

Norths passed the first innings score four down and pushed on looking to extend their lead. Their strong batting unit was on full display as the bottom six batters all passed double digits. Maher (48 off 106), Prestwidge (42 off 59), Fleming (32 off 87), McFadyen (27* off 40), Neale (17 off 25) and Sully (11 off 12) saw Norths reach 356 all out. 

With a lead of 190 and just over an hour to play, Norths went hunting for wickets while Ipswich looked to counterpunch and reduce the lead. Connor Sully struck in his second over, a full in swinger rattling Bryn Llewellyn’s (2 off 14) off stump. Harry Sheppard (16 off 17) and Dan Wilson (20 off 37) started strongly before both being undone by the competition’s leading wicket taker Noah McFadyen (2/28). Ipswich are 3/66 at stumps, trailing Norths by 124 runs. 

Valley played host to Norths in both the men’s Second and Third Grade Grand Finals. In Second Grade, Valley posted a commanding 276 batting first. Norths Ryan Walker was his side’s standout, his 31.3 overs yielding 7/63.

Valley then decimated the Norths batting order. At one stage Norths were 4/6 after 9 overs and were eventually dismissed for 69, their innings featuring five ducks. Valley opening bowler Charlie Thomas was unplayable, taking 5/20 off 16 overs. Valley elected to bat again and are 1/31 at stumps. 

In Third Grade, Norths batted first and posted 215 thanks to middle order batters Sam Deacon (65 off 141) and the experienced Haydn Murray (63 off 157). Valley opening bowler Ben Lanigan (4/48) lead his side’s attack. 

The match then continuously changed momentum as Valley opener Harry Carroll (44 off 40) dashed his way past 40 before falling to a stunning boundary catch. Harry Fortescue caught the ball on the boundary and lobbed it to himself to ensure he stayed inside the field of play. Norths continued their grind for wickets, Valley 5/109 when bad light stopped play.

It was a tight tussle in Fourth Grade, hosts Norths batting first against Redlands. Both sides faced off in the One Day Final, Redlands eager to claim their second Fourth Grade premiership of the season while Norths looked to square the ledger. Norths batted first and scrapped their way to 187, captain Michael Wright (37 off 224) playing a marathon innings.

Redlands opening bowler and internationally renowned photographer Jason Hill (5/53) was enormous for his side, bowling 35 overs in sticky conditions. Norths managed to take four wickets before stumps on day 2, Redlands 4/46 off 32.

Fifth Grade minor premiers Wests won the toss and sent University of Queensland into bat on a bowler friendly Jack McLaughlin wicket. They had immediate success, Uni not able to gain any momemtum as Wests openers Tyler Heness (3/26) and Hugh Mason (5/22). Uni lost 6/18 to be dismissed all out 94. Wests opener David Rebetzke (43 off 225) lead his side past Uni’s score 6 wickets down. Keeper Mann Chaudhari (44 off 102) then helped them to be all out 157. Uni’s Brock Balcome (4/33) led the bowling. University are 1/32 at stumps, trailing Wests by 31.

The mighty Sixth Grades sides from Souths and Norths played out a thrilling slow burn of a match. In trouble at 6/94, Norths David Brain (61 off 260) had a skippers knock and led his side to 186 on a tricky Norman Gray Oval wicket.

It was a fascinating tussle as the 106 overs were shared between a mere 4 bowlers. Further, the fourth option only bowled 13 overs. Souths Dom Coote (5/78) and Brad Anderson (3/43) bowled 37.4 and 36 overs each, an enormous effort. Norths opening bowlers Craig Holmes (3/33) and Darren Roy (2/21) led their side’s bowling innings, Souths 7/87 at stumps.

Match scores: 
https://matchcentre.premier.qld.cricket.com.au/match/ffe6079b-5c32-ec11-981f-501ac52e1666-a50dc5e9-1b70-4e3c-89b2-67b75f4ddbc7/scorecard/

Lower Grades

Second Grade (men)

Valley v Norths: https://matchcentre.premier.qld.cricket.com.au/match/ffe6079b-5c32-ec11-981f-501ac52e1666-8393abe5-d5ad-4836-94da-b50cbdaf791e/scorecard/

Third Grade

Norths v Valley: https://matchcentre.premier.qld.cricket.com.au/match/ffe6079b-5c32-ec11-981f-501ac52e1666-6d6fc34a-e00b-4ed9-ada6-6000cd1fcba8/scorecard/

Fourth Grade

Norths v Redlands: https://matchcentre.premier.qld.cricket.com.au/match/ffe6079b-5c32-ec11-981f-501ac52e1666-995dde23-951d-4486-a134-5da25761e4f4/scorecard/

Fifth Grade

Wests v University of Qld: https://matchcentre.premier.qld.cricket.com.au/match/ffe6079b-5c32-ec11-981f-501ac52e1666-94de4bba-8aa2-4bac-8702-ffe847b5e48e/scorecard/

Sixth Grade

South Brisbane v Norths: https://matchcentre.premier.qld.cricket.com.au/match/ffe6079b-5c32-ec11-981f-501ac52e1666-ecf2807c-dfc6-4ba7-a08a-1858c504d385/scorecard/

The Courier-Mail produced a 3-2-1 look for the Finals and their coverage can be found here (note, subscription required):

https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/club-cricket-grand-finals-the-best-321-across-seven-deciders/news-story/fe63fa6666652cd419a66b6747b9533f